While mopping, young mom's heart tore
Apr 16, 2021
Paramedics said 37-year-old mom Sindi Mafu's EKG was normal and her chest pain wasn’t heart-related given her age and lack of risk factors. Turns out, she had a rare kind of heart attack.
Stories From the Heart
This series from American Heart Association News chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.
Instructed in CPR by 911 dispatcher, Nebraska couple saves 13-day-old son
Apr 12, 2021
When their baby stopped breathing, Lincoln, Nebraska, news anchor Bill Schammert and his wife, Kym, saved his life using CPR. They credit the 911 dispatcher for guiding them through it.
Not just bad shoes and sore muscles – she had peripheral artery disease
Apr 9, 2021
After more than two years of unsuccessful treatments for foot and leg pain, Abigail Dudek learned the problem was in her blood vessels. She needed a bypass operation in her leg.
Physical therapy visit for knee injury was first step toward his quadruple bypass
Apr 6, 2021
Heart surgery at 50 spurred James "Pete" Watt to make the lifestyle changes he wished he would have made when doctors recommended them in his 30s.
Unloading groceries, he found his wife on the ground not breathing
Apr 1, 2021
Kent Wiles used his lifeguard training in CPR from decades earlier to help save the life of his wife, Lynn, after she had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest.
When her heart stopped after her dog died, doctors said it was broken heart syndrome
Mar 30, 2021
When her toy Maltese, Mr. Big, died unexpectedly, the grief and stress caused Tess Kossow to experience takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Heart failure at 35 helped New York cardiologist better care for patients
Mar 26, 2021
Since recovering from his near-death experience, Dr. Satjit Bhusri has embraced a healthier lifestyle and developed a deeper understanding for the needs of his heart patients.
Stroke, blindness, a heart transplant – and a can-do spirit
Mar 23, 2021
In Hana Hooper's first semester at college, she was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition. That led to strokes, surgeries, a coma, blindness, a heart transplant – and a resolve to keep learning, moving and cherishing every day.
Her daughter's earache might just have saved her life
Mar 18, 2021
Sarah Conaway was filling out hospital paperwork for her 3-year-old daughter's earache when she lost feeling in her right side. She was having a stroke. Three days later, she had a second one.
Her open-heart surgery at 4 months hits home in her 20s
Mar 16, 2021
After Jennifer Casson Tripucka understood she'd been downplaying the seriousness of her congenital heart defect, she faced her fears head on. Now, she encourages others to do the same.